[NU Sports] It's over

[Dennis W. Brandt]

<The real question is are we getting the most out of the players that we 
have.  I think the answer there is yes.

I agree and have said so many times here.  However, a small, private school 
whose football team was wearing purple uniforms won the Rose Bowl yesterday. 
It wasn't Northwestern.  Another private school with a strong academic 
reputation will be playing in the Orange Bowl this week.  It won't be 
Northwestern.  And another small, top-notch academic school won the Sun 
Bowl.  Academics and victory are not oil and water.  A strong defensive line 
can be manned by guys with 3.5 averages, although 2.8 isn't bad either.  I 
believe Fitz can do it if anyone can, but the question as to whether it ever 
will be done remains unfulfilled.  I just hope I live to see it.

<NU will have a much better team next year that it did this year.

Maybe.  I hope.  Could be.  If the redshirts are better than those they 
replace.  If we get a stud frosh or two who can step into the lineup.  If we 
get some breaks.  Lots of maybes.  Too many maybes.  I thought after the 
2009 season that we would be better in 2010.  Turned out that both lines 
showed zero improvement - worse, in fact - even though most of their 
starters returned, which is why I'm not sanguine about those groups for 2011 
barring the arrival of new, stronger blood.  I hope I'm wrong this year, 
too, in the opposite direction.  I'm weary of waiting for "next season."